Glenlyon

Despite having been reincarnated as a Marist Brothers monastery and lately a private residence, Glenlyon still retains some of the air of the grand country estate it was during the 19th century when its marble floors were polished with butter milk.

Built in 1876 for Alexander Stewart, a Scottish merchant and half owner of prominent drapery firm Stewart & Hemmant it originally stood on 250 acres, with a formal bunya pine lined entrance that is today Glenlyon Drive. The original gates to the estate were removed and now stand at the entrance to Stuartholme College.

The separate cottage beside the grand main residence was built as a billiard and gun room for his sons to entertain friends and later, under the ownership of the Marist Brothers, became a chapel. It is Stewart Place in Ashgrove’s shopping village that is named after one of his sons who was, like his father, prominent local businessman.

Alexander Stewart lived there until he died in 1918, with the property passing to a developer who subdivided the estate. Its first foray into religious orders began in 1927 with the Marist Fathers renting it before purchasing it in 1930 whereupon remained in their hands until 2003.